KAMPALA The Inspector General of Police, IGP Abbas Byakagaba has appointed Superintendent of Police (SP) Racheal Kawala as the new Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, replacing Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Patrick Onyango, who has served in the position for several years.
Kawala joins from Wamala Region Police, where she served as the Regional Police Spokesperson since February 2020 , a position that earned her recognition for the professionalism, consistency, and community engagement she exhibited in the last five years across the districts of Mityana, Kyankwanzi Kiboga, Mubende, and Kassanda.
She will be deputized by Luke Owoyesigyire who was been working under Onyango.
Although Police had not yet released an official statement at the time of filing this report, insiders revealed to Newzzone publication that her appointment had already been communicated internally, pending formal public announcement by the Police Human Resource Directorate.
Kawala’s transfer to Kampala Metropolitan — the most high-profile and media-intensive command in the country — underscores the Force’s confidence in her ability to manage strategic communication during a politically sensitive period marked by increased public demonstrations, campaign rallies, and heightened security operations.
Kawala’s predecessor, Patrick Onyango, who has served in the Kampala Metropolitan role since 2019, is expected to take up a new assignment within the Police administration.
During his tenure, Onyango a former parliamentary reporter with Daily Monitor newspaper became a familiar face in the media, handling some of the most complex security stories, including the COVID-19 enforcement period, protest crackdowns, and major crime operations within Kampala.
“Onyango leaves a legacy of consistency and accessibility. He bridged the gap between the Force and the public at a time when trust in institutions was under intense scrutiny,” a senior officer said